Three link, six point hinge assembly for deck lid

Abstract

The present invention provides a hinge assembly which comprises a three link, six pivot linkage arrangements constructed and arranged such that when a deck lid is being initially moved from its closed position toward an open position the deck lid will be caused to be rapidly moved vertically upward from its associated seal means with only very minor pivotal movement until the closure panel clears the seal means located adjacent the hinge assemblies whereby the exertion of transverse forces against the seal means due to any wiping action of the closure panel on the seal means as it is initially moved to its open position is minimized.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In an automotive vehicle having rear body structure whose upper periphery defines an access opening to a trunk compartment, a compressible elastomeric seal means carried by said upper periphery of said body structure,   a deck lid for said access opening,   and a pair of laterally spaced hinge assemblies connected with said deck lid adjacent its front end and pivotally connected with said rear body structure adjacent said front end of said deck lid,   said hinge assemblies swingably supporting said deck lid for movement between an open position to afford access to said compartment and a closed position in which said deck lid compresses said seal means and closes off access to said compartment, the improvement being that said hinge assemblies each comprise a linkage means including a three link, six pivot linkage arrangement operatively pivotally connected to said deck lid and operatively both pivotally and slidably connected to said body structure, said linkage arrangement comprising a first link having one end pivotally connected via a first pivot means to said deck lid adjacent its front end and its other end pivotally and slidably connected by a second pivot means to a support member on said body structure located adjacent the front end of said deck lid,   said support member on said body structure having a non-linear slot extending longitudinally of said vehicle and whose intermediate portion is lower than its first and second opposite ends, as viewed in side elevation, said second pivot means being pivotally and slidably received in said slot,   a second link pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said first link at a location intermediate the opposite ends of said first link via a third pivot means,   said second link at one end being pivotally connected via a fourth pivot means to said support member,   a third link having one end pivotally connected via a fifth pivot means to said deck lid at a location spaced further rearwardly than said first pivot means and its other end pivotally connected via a sixth pivot means to the second link at its end remote from said fourth pivot means,   said second pivot means being located adjacent said first end of said slot when said deck lid is in its closed position,   said linkage arrangement and said slot in said support having a configuration such that, when the deck lid is being initially moved from its closed position toward an open position, the deck lid is caused to be rapidly moved vertically upward from said seal means with only a very little pivotal movement until the front end of the deck lid clears said seal means whereby the exertion of transverse forces against said seal means due to any wiping action of said deck lid as it is being initially moved to its open position is minimized.   
     
     
       2. In an automotive vehicle, as defined in claim 1, and wherein said linkage arrangement causes said deck lid, after said initial upward movement thereof, to be pivotally moved with only slight further upward vertical movement of said front end of said deck lid as the deck lid is further moved toward its full open position. 
     
     
       3. In an automotive vehicle, as defined in claim 2, and wherein said first link is generally L-shaped and said second link is J-shaped. 
     
     
       4. In an automotive vehicle, as defined in claim 3, and wherein said slot in said support member is generally shaped like an inverted trapezoid. 
     
     
       5. In an automotive vehicle, as defined in claim 4, and wherein said third link is linear. 
     
     
       6. In an automotive vehicle having body structure whose upper periphery defines an access opening to a compartment, a compressible elastomeric seal means carried by said upper periphery of said body structure,   a closure panel for said access opening,   and a pair of laterally spaced hinge assemblies connected with said closure panel adjacent one end thereof and pivotally connected with said body structure adjacent said one end of said closure panel,   said hinge assemblies swingably supporting said closure panel for movement between an open position to afford access to said compartment and a closed position in which said closure panel compresses said seal means and closes off access to said compartment, the improvement being that said hinge assemblies each comprise a linkage means including a three link, six pivot linkage arrangement operatively pivotally connected to said closure panel and operatively both pivotally and slidably connected to said body structure, said linkage arrangement comprising a first link having one end pivotally connected via a first pivot means to said closure panel adjacent said one end thereof and its other end pivotally and slidably connected by a second pivot means to a support member on said body structure located adjacent said one end of said closure panel,   said support member on said body structure having a non-linear slot extending longitudinally of said vehicle and whose intermediate portion is lower than its first and second opposite ends, as viewed in side elevation, said second pivot means being pivotally and slidably received in said slot,   a second link pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said first link at a location intermediate the opposite ends of said first link via a third pivot means,   said second link at one end being pivotally connected via a fourth pivot means to said support member,   a third link having one end pivotally connected via a fifth pivot means to said closure panel at a location spaced further away than said first pivot means from said one end of said closure panel and its other end pivotally connected via a sixth pivot means to the second link at its end remote from said fourth pivot means,   said second pivot means being located adjacent said first end of said slot when said closure panel is in its closed position,   said linkage arrangement and said slot in said support having a configuration such that, when the closure panel is being initially moved from its closed position toward an open position, the closure panel is caused to be rapidly moved vertically upward from said seal means with only a very little pivotal movement until said one end of the closure panel clears said seal means whereby the exertion of transverse forces against said seal means due to any wiping action of said closure panel as it is being initially moved to its open position is minimized.   
     
     
       7. In an automotive vehicle, as defined in claim 6, and wherein said linkage arrangement causes said closure panel, after said initial upward movement thereof, to be pivotally moved with only slight further upward vertical movement of said one end of said closure panel movement as the closure panel is further moved toward its full open position.